The national Personal Auto Policy guide covers the ISO policy. This guide covers the Mississippi rules around it:

• the Motor Vehicle Safety-Responsibility Law (Miss. Code 63-15)
• the uninsured motorist statute (83-11-101 to 83-11-111)
• the auto cancellation law (83-11-1 to 83-11-21), including the 2025 change to 45-day notice
• the Mississippi Automobile Insurance Plan

Mississippi's required coverage is liability insurance. An injured person recovers from the at-fault driver, subject to comparative negligence.

Financial responsibility and proof

Comparative negligence (11-7-15): contributory negligence doesn't bar recovery. Damages are reduced in proportion to the claimant's negligence. For example, $50,000 less 40% fault is $30,000.

Uninsured motorist coverage (83-11-101 to 83-11-111)

• Required unless the insured rejects it in writing on a Department-approved form.
• Limits are at least the financial responsibility minimums. The insured may choose higher UM limits, up to the policy's liability limits.
• UM property damage may exclude the first $200. An insured may reject UM property damage alone, but someone who rejects UM bodily injury can't keep UM property damage.
• Uninsured vehicle includes (83-11-103):
  • a vehicle with no liability insurance
  • a vehicle whose insurer denies coverage or is insolvent, at the time of the accident or within 12 months after
  • a vehicle whose bodily injury limits are less than the injured person's UM limits (so UM also works as underinsured coverage)
  • a hit-and-run vehicle, but only with actual physical contact
• U.S. government vehicles subject to the Federal Tort Claims Act aren't "uninsured."
• Insured includes the named insured, the resident spouse and relatives, anyone using the car with consent, and guests in it.
• A UM endorsement can't require arbitration. The paying insurer is subrogated (83-11-107, 83-11-109).
• Stacking: policies covering 4 or more vehicles may offer non-stacking UM. The minimum is $100,000 / $200,000 / $100,000, four times the financial responsibility limits (Reg. 2002-1). With stacked coverage, the limits for each vehicle add together.

Cancellation and nonrenewal (83-11-1 to 83-11-21)

Scope: private passenger four-wheel vehicles with a load capacity of 1,500 pounds or less that aren't used in business. The law doesn't apply to assigned risk policies, policies on more than 4 autos, or garage, sales, repair, service station or parking risks.

Cancellation reasons (83-11-3)

• The limits don't apply in the first 60 days of a new policy.
• After that, cancellation is allowed only for:
  • nonpayment
  • suspension or revocation of a driver's license or registration
  • loss of required membership
• To avoid cancellation, the insured may ask in writing within 7 days that the affected driver be excluded. If the excluded driver later uses the car, the policy can be cancelled immediately.
• Adding a deductible of $100 or less isn't a cancellation.

Notice

• Nonrenewal notice isn't needed if the insured showed unwillingness to renew, didn't meet renewal conditions or didn't pay. A named creditor loss payee changes this.
• A certificate of mailing is enough proof of notice (83-11-9).
• The notice must mention possible eligibility under the assigned risk plan (83-11-11).
• The reason is given within 5 days of a timely written request (83-11-13).

Hearings (83-11-17 to 83-11-21)

• The insured may request a hearing within 7 working days of receiving the notice. There's no filing fee since 2024.
• The Commissioner calls a hearing within 2 working days, on at least 7 days' notice.
• A reinstatement order works retroactively for no more than 20 days.
• Court appeals are due within 60 days, with a $100 bond.

Mississippi Automobile Insurance Plan (63-15-65; 19 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 4, Ch. 3)

• An agreement among insurers to provide auto liability coverage to risks that can't get it themselves.
• The applicant certifies that he or she tried to get coverage in the past 60 days.
• Policies are written at least at the financial responsibility limits.
• Producers may not deduct commission from the premium sent with the application.
• Commercial risks go through the Commercial Automobile Insurance Procedure (CAIP).

Common exam traps

• Minimums: 25/50/25 liability.
• UM is required unless rejected in writing. Hit-and-run needs physical contact. UM PD may exclude $200.
• Non-stacking UM on 4+ vehicle policies has minimums of 100/200/100.
• New for coverage on or after July 1, 2026: 45 days' notice to cancel or nonrenew. Nonpayment: 10 days.
• Hearing request: 7 working days, with no fee.
• Damages are reduced by the claimant's fault, but the claim is never barred.